What would you buy if the US changed its import ban from 25 years to 15?

Here’s a cause we can get behind. There’s a petition at the White House website asking for two things. 1.) That the Department of Homeland Security stop wasting tax dollars seizing grey market imports, and 2.) that the DOT and EPA lower its vehicle import age from its current 25 years to 15.

Our neighbors to the north have long had access to some truly brilliant JDM goodies, everything from Honda Beats to Mazda JC Eunos Cosmos, thanks to Canada’s 15 year import restriction. Apparently, their government is wise enough to realize that a few die-hard enthusiasts driving cars from countries with pretty good safety standards already are not going to cause the collapse of civilization. 

And besides, doesn’t Homeland Security have some terrorists to kill, or is Al-Qaida trying to destroy America one R32 GT-R at a time?

Stop using Homeland Security funds to seize imported vehicles, and change the DOT/EPA exemption to 15 years.

The Department of Homeland Security spends a shockingly disproportionate amount of its budget not on security initiatives, but on customs seizures. In particular, importers of grey-market vehicles have been targeted by monies taxpayers have intended to be used to secure our country against terrorism and terrorist activity. We call upon the Executive Branch to immediately cease this wasteful activity, and furthermore to change the DOT/EPA exemption time on grey-market vehicles from 25 years to 15 years (to match the vehicle regulations of Canada), recognizing that the 25-year rule was enacted due to support from special interests such as Mercedes Benz North America.

So go sign it. It needs 25,000 signatures by December 9 to have any hope or becoming something. Then tell us in the comments below what 1987-1996 car you would import if this thing actually succeeds in making some changes. Our pick? A two-tone JZS130G Toyota Crown high-roof wagon.

[minkara]

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44 Responses to What would you buy if the US changed its import ban from 25 years to 15?

  1. TommyJ says:

    Can’t go wrong with the trio of the kei sports cars: Honda Beat, Suzuki Cappucino, and Autozam AZ-1.

  2. Bonzi Lon says:

    OH, JOY!!! My first choice would be a Nissan Figaro. Chicks dig em’. 🙂

  3. RALLYX says:

    Best of luck fellow JDM Car Enthusiasts in the US.
    We know how you feel as our Australian Government is just as tough on Grey-Imports.

    Hope it all changes for you.

    Crown Comfort thanks.

  4. Tofu_Delivery says:

    jzx100 toyota chaser!!

  5. CraigK says:

    Great to see this posted up!!
    As much as I’d like a GT-R, im a whore for 4 doors so probably like a Toyota Chaser or something along those lines for me:)

  6. Felipe says:

    here in Brazil are 30 years 🙁

  7. Lincoln Stax says:

    I would roll like a boss in a jet black Eunos Cosmo with the 20B-REW.

  8. Harrison says:

    I’d go for a clean early-’90s Subaru Legacy RS type RA. Then I’d bring home a Starlet Glanza turbo, an original Integra Type-R, and a Cappuccino.

  9. john says:

    Early WRX… http://tinyurl.com/88nm7za

    Or early EVO… http://tinyurl.com/86fkzch

    Or maybe Pulsar GTi-R… http://tinyurl.com/7dlhf6h

    Can you tell I have a thing for turbocharged AWD cars from the early 90s? 🙂

  10. Kelly Greenidge says:

    Wow great eye on this man. I signed it as well as my wife.
    I would get me Eunos Cosmo.

  11. Tyler says:

    Honestly I would still just want 70’s Skyline or something.

  12. Nick says:

    I don’t want this to sound arogant..
    But im from New Zealand and alot of the cars you guys would want most people here hate.
    i feel for you guys NZ is like Japan south pacific dumping ground we have all sorts down here!

  13. 47hako says:

    I’d wait a few years and pick up a Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech Version

  14. Sean Morris says:

    Thanks for posting this up. 25k is not the goal, 25k is the start.

    http://www.2009gtr.com/2011/11/petition-for-25-year-old-to-15-year-old.html

    Please post it up on forums, and share it where ever you can. Just under 9,000 signatures so far.

  15. Tom Westmacott says:

    Good luck from the UK. We can bring in anything over 10 years old easily, and we haven’t been wiped out yet, so 25 years is really only protectionism.

    I actually have imported a 1994 180SX – yeah, the S-body is available domestically but I wanted one that wasn’t rusty and came with the SR20 installed for reliability reasons. Been my daily driver for 4 years now.

    The 86-96 bracket buys you all the great bubble-era extravagances.

  16. SrfairladyZ says:

    Signed! R32 GTR would be nice for the up coming North East weather we’ll be having. Throw on the snow tires and USE that thing! What I really want isn’t very practical, a red/gray DR30 Iron Mask. 😉

  17. Mark says:

    Nissan Skyline GTS-T R32, or to be honest – any R32 skyline that is clean would be my ideal classic. Would be hard to not like a Toyota Chaser with the 2JZ-GTE mill in it, or an Accord Type-R- where to stop right? So many … Legacy Blitzen… Going to need to get a 2nd job if this happens. 🙂

  18. ACSK says:

    As much as I like the Suzuki Cara, I think my first choice would be a mid-90s white Subaru Sambar truck. I absolutely love them. If I was rich enough to fill out my dream garage, though, I would think about adding a 2nd-gen Nissan Cube in a couple years.

  19. Tevin says:

    I would say Toyota celica ST205 gt4

  20. esv says:

    Strange law, we don’t have a such thing over here in Scandinavia. As matter of fact I’ve been wondering why u dont have silvias or skylines over there in the States. Ps. check the link if u wanna see what kind of cars hast just one company imported here 😉

    • John says:

      I’ve been wondering why u dont have silvias or skylines over there in the States.

      We do. They are just mostly all over 25 years old. 😉

      FYI, there have been many imported, some legally, some not. Plenty of S15 Silvias, R32/R33/R34 Skylines, etc.

      Just not very easy to get one legalized in most states.

  21. Sebastian says:

    A GTR R33 would do it for me! Just thinking about it makes me desperate!!

  22. shaun says:

    im already importings stuff from 25 years, but if I could get something a biut newer, there are so many options. Id grab an evo 3, maybe a fto for the gf,

  23. ken nakajima says:

    a bit of everthing from each vehicle class starting with sports cars FD model RX7 the enfini model 4×4 truck toytota hilux crew cab with 3.0 litre turbo diesel luxury sedans either a toyota century or a nissan president vans toyota hiace heavy trucks nissan diesel big thumb or isuzu giga

  24. ylee says:

    no complaints here since all the cars i want are older than 1986. but a R30 would be nice. 🙂

  25. Danny says:

    How great would it be to tool around town in a Mazda Scrum or Honda Step Van, with a healthy drop and a set of 13 in SSR’s ? The world would be a better place..

  26. ylee says:

    Glass top EF CRX, Skylines, Evo3, MK3 Supra Turbo A (for collection), AE111 corolla sprinter, and Nissan Stagea.

  27. John says:

    Didn’t think about that…

    A RHD JDM ’91 Civic hatch would be my ideal daily driver… 🙂

  28. akibahara_shounen says:

    Hmm r32 skyline coupe (GTS-T), an ex-taxicab Crown Comfort and a Y33 Nissan Cedric.

  29. chad rice says:

    I signed and sent it to everyone on my contact list to do the same. My pick would be a early to mid 90’s 4×4 Delica!

  30. Edward Clark says:

    Any 1993-1995 Jdm Honda NSX-R. 🙂 🙂

  31. darian says:

    signed last week. But, Mazda Rx7 Spirit R! 1st on my list.

  32. Drew3x says:

    I could own that Alto Works Sport? 🙂

    already really want that Cosmo (82?) from a few weeks back.

  33. Reece says:

    I live in Canada, and there’s a bone stock, weathered Honda Beat not a block from me! 😀 I hope you guys get the signatures you need, though.

  34. vvlgazelle says:

    signed!
    Nissan Silvia/Gazelle RS-X(S12), Honda Orthia, C33 Nissan Laurel, R33 GTS-T or a 4-door R32 😉

  35. Jun says:

    Skyline Japan for sure. Round lights, 2 door, flares, 10J’s, loud paint and oil cooler hanging off the front. Done.

  36. jrials says:

    it didnt get enough sigs..=(

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